Sale 79: The George J. Kramer Collection of Western Trails and Routes

Lot 3198    

Holland & Wheeler's Daily Express., black printed paid frank with fancy frame on 3¢ pink (U34) entire cancelled by blue "Holland & Wheeler's Express, La Porte, Aug 26" double-circle datestamp (HOW-101) to Howlands Flat, Sierra County, Cal.; restored at left with part of another envelope, Fine appearance, Thomas WC6008, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. HOW-003    Estimate $250 - 350.

George W. Morley sold his interest of Holland, Morley & Co. to Sam Wheeler in late 1862. Holland & Wheeler operated over the same routes. From La Porte they ran to Marysville where they connected with Wells Fargo. From La Porte they serviced the Gibsonville Ridge and Feather River mining camps. Sam Wheeler left the company in late 1863 and it is believed that Homer B. Holland continued operating for a short time.

Realized: $800

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Lot 3199    

Holland, Morley &Co. Express, Marysville, Cal., blue oval handstamp cancels 3¢ pink (U34) buff entire to Bidwells Bar, printed "Whiting & Co's Feather River Express, Paid" frank; restored at top right, Very Fine appearance, A rare conjunctive use, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. HOW-100    Estimate $500 - 750.

Realized: $1,100

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Lot 3200    

Hopkinson's Express, printed frank with fancy frame, on 3¢ pink (U58) entire with indicia cancelled by manuscript "Dutch Flat, Jany 22 1866, By Hopkinsons Express" to Nevada City Cal., receipt docketing at left; reduced slightly at left, Very Fine.
Thomas No. HOP-004    Estimate $200 - 300.

E.B. Hopkinson operated between Nevada City and Dutch Flat via the Red Dog and Little York mining camps 1862-1864. In late 1864, he sold his route to J.A. Stone. After a short try, Stone returned the route back to Hopkinson who operated from it from 1865 to 1867. Hopkinson connected with Wells Fargo at Nevada City and Dutch Flat.

Realized: $450

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Lot 3201    

Hopkinson's Express, Red Dog, Nevada Co., California, printed frank with printed Red Dog triple-circle cachet at left on 3¢ pink (U58) entire cancelled by "New-York, Feb 26" duplex to South Hope Me.; some wear, F.-V.F., WC4278.
Thomas No. HOP-009    Estimate $500 - 750.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE HOPKINSON'S EXPRESS RED DOG FRANK.

Realized: $700

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Lot 3202    

Hopkinson's Express., red fancy framed frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire addressed to Nevada City Cal., docketed "Darius Holmes, Aug 9/65" at left, Very Fine, WC4286.
Thomas No. HOP-103    Estimate $750 - 1,000.

ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS RED HOPKINSON'S EXPRESS FRANK.

Realized: $800

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Lot 3203    

La Porte Express Co., fancy paid frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire cancelled by perfect strike of blue "La Porte Express Co., La Porte, May 10" oval datestamp LAP-100c to San Francisco Cal., conjunctive strike of "Wells Fargo Co., Maysville, May 11" double-oval; partial flap and small edge tear, Very Fine, WC2390, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. LAP-001    Estimate $750 - 1,000.

A CHOICE LA PORTE EXPRESS CO. CONJUNCTIVE USE WITH WELLS FARGO & CO. EXPRESS.

This express operated between La Porte Cal. and the mining camps in the Gibsonville Ridge area. For mail going south, a connection with Wells Fargo was made at Marysville. A connection with Whiting & Co. was established for mail going into Northern California. This operation sold out to Wells Fargo in 1866.

Realized: $1,700

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Lot 3204    

Lamping & Co's Express, fancy printed frank on 3¢ pink (U58) entire cancelled by "Lamping & Co. Express, Downieville" oval handstamp and blue "Wells Fargo & Co., Marysville, May 3" double-oval, addressed to San Francisco Cal.; part of back missing, Very Fine and scarce conjunctive use, Thomas WC2744, ex Dale-Lichtenstein.
Thomas No. LAM-002    Estimate $400 - 600.

P.A. Lamping ran an express between Marysville and Downieville. From Downieville he supported the local mines. At first he connected with Wells Fargo at Marysville. In 1865, he switched to Langton for his connecting support. After the death of Samuel Langton, he purchased Langton Express from the family. Wells Fargo refused to honor the Lamping franks. With no connecting express for material outside his area of operation, he was forced to sell all of the combined express activity to Wells Fargo.

Realized: $425

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Lot 3205    

Langton's Pioneer Express, printed frank on 3¢ red (U10) buff Nesbitt entire cancelled by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, Nevada." oval to Negro Hill, pencil "Nov. 26. 1856" at left; edge faults, Fine.
Thomas No. LAN-008    Estimate $200 - 300.

Negro Hill was located near Mormon Island. A man named Kelsey, an African-American from Massachusetts and a Methodist minister along with other Black miners rediscovered the diggins in 1849. Together, these men established a community of African-American, Caucasian, Chinese, and Portuguese miners that were to grow as large as 400 persons by 1855.

Realized: $200

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Lot 3206    

Langton's Pioneer Express, fancy printed paid frank on 3¢ red (U10) buff entire to Timbuctoo, manuscript "Oct 5th 1858." dating, partial backflap, Very Fine.
Thomas No. LAN-008    Estimate $200 - 300.

Sam Langton was surely the most outstanding of the independent expressmen, operating a variety of routes beginning in 1850 for almost fifteen years.

Realized: $160

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Lot 3207    

Langton's Pioneer Express, fancy printed paid frank on 3¢ red (U9) entire cancelled by "North San Juan" oval with "May 25" dating to San Francisco Cal., blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Marysville, May 26" double-oval datestamp; no back flap, Very Fine, ex-J.R. Hill Jr.
Thomas No. LAN-008    Estimate $100 - 150.

Realized: $230

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